Control system for textile roving frame



March 21, 1967 B. VEHORN CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE ROVING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1966 INVENTOR: BENNY L. VEHOEN ATTORNEYS March 21, 1967 B. 1.. VEHORN CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE ROVING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1966 March 21, 1967 B. L. VEHORN 3,309,859

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE ROVING FRAME Filed Jan. 11, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 86 INVENTOR. BEN NY L. VEHOEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()ilice 3,3%9,859 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,309,859 CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE ROVING FRAME Benny L. Vehorn, Charlotte, N.C., assignor to James L.

Highsmith and Company, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 519,921 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-81) This invention relates to a control system for a textile machine and, more particularly, to a control system for stopping a textile roving frame upon the interruption of a strand or strands of textile material being processed thereby.

It is well known that during the operation of a roving frame, there occur frequent interruptions of strands being processed. Such interruptions occur either as a break in the sliver being supplied to the frame, a run out of sliver wherein the supply is exhausted, or by a break in the roving between a drafting unit and the cor responding bobbin. Any strand interruption, of the types listed above, results in an inferior product being produced and, the longer a roving frame operates with an improper operating condition, such as interruption of a strand or strands, the greater the quantity of inferior goods produced. Thus, it is preferred to stop the roving frame as soon as possible after interruption of any strand. Further, with certain types of strand interruption, and particularly a roving break between a drafting unit and a flyer, a first strand interruption may initiate a chain reaction of further strand interruptions, resulting in breakage of a number of the strands being processed by the frame.

Various means have heretofore been proposed for stopping roving frames upon a strand interruption. Commercially useful means have relied upon physical contact of some portion of a control system with the strand during the operation of the roving frame. For example, a roving is passed through an eyelet member, which is held in a non-stopping position so long as the roving frame is properly operating. Upon interruption of the strand threaded through the eyelet members, the corresponding eyelet member is permitted to fall or be moved to a position indicating the strand interruption and stops operation of the roving frame. Such systems have suffered from major deficiencies, primarily requiring that the twist and tension of the roving be increased in order to avoid rupture of the roving resulting from the frictional drag of the strand engaging members. Further, such systems will cause false stops of the roving frame upon the existence of a slack condition in a strand resulting, for example, for change in vertical direction of movement of bobbins during winding. Such false stops, when there is no strand interruption, result in loss of production from the roving frame and inferior products, and thus are almost as undesirable as continued operation after a strand interruption.

Attempts have been made heretofore to avoid the deficiencies of physical contact control systems by developing systems which have not relied upon physical contact with the strand during operation of the roving frame. More particularly, it has been proposed that a photoelectric control system may be applied to a roving frame in an area where the path of travel of the strands are exposed for viewing by a photoelectric receiver or photocell responsive to some interruption of the illumination applied thereto by a light source.

In a known photoelectric control system, as used ad jacent the path of travel of roving from the drafting units to the flyers, a photoelectric means responsive to the interruption of the illumination applied to a receiver has been used, with an integrating network to limit the response of the system to stopping the frame only when the illumination applied to the photoelectric receiver was intermittently interrupted with a predetermined frequency within a predetermined short time period. The operation of such a system has not been satisfactory inasmuch as the roving frame is not stopped quickly enough to avoid chain reaction interruptions of rovings.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved control system for a textile roving frame which overcomes the deficiencies of the prior types of control systems described heretofore and which comprises a photoelectric receiver or photocell which is re sponsive only to rapid changes or fluctuations in the intensity of light impinging thereon so that it will not effect false stoppages of the roving frame when subjected to gradual changes in light intensity, and wherein the receiver is so located with respect to the flyers in a corresponding row that it will generate a control signal effective to stop the roving frame only upon the rapid curling, whipping or twisting of the free end of an'interrupted roving strand projecting outwardly from the barrel of any one or more of the flyers in the corresponding row.

In the early stages of development of this invention, many diificulties were encountered because the ideal location of the photoelectric receiver was not known or readily determined. With the detection area defined by the scanning axis of the photoelectric receiver extending tangentially of the barrels or upper extremities of each flyer in a corresponding row, as was the case in early development of this invention, frequency false stoppages of the frame would occur when there were no interrupted rovings on the frame.

In attempting to eliminate such false stoppages of the roving frame, I adjusted the sensitivity of the photoelectric system and found that this did not overcome the problem of false stoppages. On the premise that the false stoppages might be caused by some displacement or wobbling of the upper extremities of the fiyers out of their intended true concentric paths of rotation and that such wobbling of the flyers might be effecting momentary changes or interruptions in the intensity of light applied to the photoelectric receiver, I then repositioned the photoelectric receiver a short distance forwardly of the barrels of the flyers to insure that the scanning axis of the photoelectric receiver was completely out of the path of rotation of the flyers, as a result of which the false stoppages of the roving frame were reduced to some extent, but were not eliminated.

Although operation of the roving frame was carefully analyzed and various adjustments were made in the sensitivity of the photoelectric system, even to the extent of utilizing different types of amplifiers and associated light responsive relays, the cause of the false stoppages could not be found. I then positioned the receiver further forwardly so that its detection area was further out of the path of rotation of the wobbling upper extremities of the flyers. While this location exhibited a lessening of false stoppages, the efficiency of the receiver in detecting broken or interrupted rovings was reduced and thus created new problems. I then adjusted the receiver to various other locations, including a location such that its detection area extended closely adjacent and longitudinally of a corresponding row of fiyers and was spaced forwardly of, above, and outside the paths of rotation of the upper extremities of the fiyers, but so that any interrupted rovings would pass through the detection area and, to my surprise, the latter location of the receiver resulted in highly efiicient operation of the photoelectric system in detecting interrupted rovings and stopping the roving frame as a result thereof, While practically eliminating the occurrence of false stoppages of the roving frame. In seeking an explanation of this phenomenon, I discovered that the false stoppages had occurred prior to making the latter adjustment because of various intensities of light reflecting from the rapidly rotating and wobbling flyers, and that the latter adjustment was such that any light reflected from the flyers was ineffective with respect to the receiver such as to cause false stoppages of the roving frame.

Separately developed photoelectric control systems have been proposed for use adjacent the path of travel of sliver from the creel supply to the drafting systems. Such photoelectric control systems have employed a relatively long time constant, requiring that the illumination applied to the photoelectric receiver be interrupted and the interruption maintained for a predetermined, relatively extended period of time before the control system responds to stop the frame. Due to the long time constant of the photoelectric system, some means has heretofore been required to support a broke sliver in the illumination interrupting position. Since the speed of operation of roving frames has been increased in recent years, the relatively long time constant of such systems has become increasingly undesirable, because the speed of movement of a sliver will quickly carry the free end of the interrupted sliver beyond the support means of the control system.

It is therefore another object of this invention to provide, in a control system of the character described, a second photoelectric receiver or photocell located closely adjacent and below the normal plane of the path of travel of slivers in their course from the creel to the drafting units of a roving frame, and wherein the second photoelectric receiver also is located at a predetermined distance forwardly of the usual foremost guide means or last guide rod of the creel to insure that any interrupted sliver or slivers will pass across the line of sight of the second photoelectric receiver and effect stoppage of the roving frame even though high speed operation of the roving frame may cause an interrupted sliver to project forwardly above its normal path of travel as it leaves the front guide rod due to the momentum of the corresponding interrupted sliver.

Thus, the photoelectric receivers arranged according to this invention effectively and efliciently detect any interrupted rovings or slivers to concurrently effect prompt stoppage of the roving frame. Further, it is to be noted that the response circuits or amplifiers of the photoelectric receivers associated with the rows of flyers are of a type which will respond only to rapid changes in the intensity of light impinging thereon, and that the photoelectric receiver associated with each row of flyers is so located that wobbling of the upper portions of the flyers and/or reflection of light therefrom will not unintentionally effect operation of the control circuits associated with the photoelectric receivers.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse elevational view, partially in section, of one type of a conventional roving frame equipped with the control system of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic perspective view of certain operating elements of the roving frame of FIGURE 1 including operating elements of the control system of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of one of the flyers of the roving frame of FIGURE 1 illustrating the particular location of one operating ele-.

ment of the control system of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of an amplifying response circuit for photoelectric receiver 21;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a second type of conventional roving frame equipped with the control system of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse elevational view of the roving frame of FIGURE 6, including the particular location of one operating element of the control system of this invention; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the roving frame of FIGURE 6, including certain other operatin elements of the control system of this invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the improved roving frame control system is shown in association with two well-known types of conventional roving frames, one type of which is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and the other type of which is shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. The first type of roving frame, broadly designated at 10, comprises a row of drafting units 11 which may be in the form of drafting rolls carried by roll stands 12 mounted on a main frame 14. Conventionally, roving frame 10 is provided with a creel including cans C from which slivers S are withdrawn to be received by drafting units 11. In their course to drafting units 11, slivers 5 pass from cans C over suitably supported sliver guide rods 15 serving to guide the slivers in predetermined inclined parallel paths of travel to the drafting systems. The drafted slivers S emanate from drafting units 11 in the form of textile rovings R which are formed into wound packages P on rotating bobbins B by means of respective rotating flyers 16. As is usual, two longitudinally extending rows 17, 17' of flyers 16 are provided, the flyers in the front or foremost row 17 being staggered with respect to the flyers in the back row 17'.

Flyers 16 are of the usual type having opposed legs which straddle the respective packages P and which may spread apart or expand under centrifugal force generated by rapid rotation of the flyers. One leg of each flyer is hollow and carries a conventional presser 18 for laying the rovings onto the packages. The upper portion of each flyer includes a cylindrical projection or barrel 19 (FIG- URE 3) into the open upper end of which the corresponding roving R passes, after which the roving passes outwardly through a lateral opening extending through the barrel. The corresponding roving R then extends partially around the barrel 19 and downwardly through the hollow leg of the corresponding flyer, to be deposited on the packages P by presser 18.

The control system of this invention is particularly deviced for use in combination with a roving frame for detecting strand interruptions and stopping the frame and, more specifically, the control system of this invention is responsive to the interruption of either a sliver S in its course to a drafting unit 11, or to a roving R in its course from a drafting unit to a package P.

In order to stop the frame 10 upon the interruption of a roving R, first photoelectric means is provided for generating a control signal for each row 17, 17' of flyers 16. The first photoelectric means includes light sources 2%, 20' for the respective rows 17, 17 mounted at one end of the frame 10 and directing light toward respective photoelectric receivers or photocells 21, 21 at the other end of frame 10. Receivers 21 are illuminated by light source 20, 20 (FIGURE 2) and are operatively associated with respective amplifying response circuits 22, 22' (FIGURES 4 and 5) which generate respective control signals, by changing the contact established by a relay contact set, upon rapid change in intensity of the illumination applied to the respective photoelectric receivers 21, 21. In order to avoid the deficiencies of prior photoelectric control systems for roving frames, as described heretofore, each photoelectric receiver 21, 21' views or scans at predetermined restricted detection area 23, 23 closely adjacent to but spaced from the barrels 19 of the flyers 16 aligned in the respective rows 17, 17' and through which area an interrupted roving will pass. The diameter of the detection area at each receiver 21, 21 may be about A inch. The location of each predetermined area bears a particular and important relationship to the fiyers 16 which is necessary due to certain operational characteristics of the flyers. In order that this relationship may be fully appreciated, a more complete discussion of the effects of certain operating characteristics of the flyers upon the operation of the photoelectric means will now be given.

As discussed above, the legs of fiyers 16 are subject to expansion, or spread apart, adjacent their lower ends under centrifugal force arising during operation of the roving frame 19. Such expansion of the legs of the flyers 16 results in a dynamically unbalanced condition of the flyers, with the particular degree of unbalance for any given fiyer depending upon the speed of rotation thereof, the relative rigidity of the two legs of the flyer, and the relative displacement of the mass of the fiyer due to force elfects. As a result of such dynamic unbalance, flyers 16 will wobble, or not follow true concentric paths of rotation. The departure of an individual fiyer 16 from the desired true path of rotation may not be readily predicted, and may vary depending upon the operating conditions for the frame 16. Thus, while the barrels 19 of the fiyers 16 in a single row may be positioned in true alignment when the frame i not operating, the barrels 19 are subject to random departures from the static alignment during operation of the frame 1%.

Additionally, as conventionally used, the flyers 16 have a somewhat glossy surface finish from which varying intensities of light are reflected. Due to the placement of each light source 2%, and possibly the placement of overhead lighting in the plant in which the roving frame 19 is being used, light is reflected from various surfaces of the fiyers 16 during the operation of the frame 10. If each receiver 21, 21' is not properly located, the refiection of light from the rotating fiyers will vary the intensity of the light being received by the respective receivers 21, 21 sufficiently to cause the associated control circuit to generate a control signal at a time that such signal is not desired.

-It has been discovered that the effects of light reflected from the rotating flyers 16, due to random displacement of the barrels 19 and upper portions of the legs of the fiyers 16 causing an undesirable variation in the intensity of light applied to receivers 21, 21, have been a major source of difficulty in the operation of previously proposed photoelectric control systems for textile roving frames. In the control system of this invention, these difliculties are avoided by positioning each receiver so that it scans a predetermined detection area adjacent but spaced from the ilyers. More particularly, the predetermined area viewed by each receiver 21, 21 extends longitudinally of a row of flyers at a predetermined distance forwardly of the upper extremities or barrels 19 of the flyers 16. By being located forwardly of the common plane of the upper extremities of the flyers in each row, each detection area is located outside the paths of rotation of the flyers, even though random departures of the barrels 19 from the static positions occur during operation of the roving frame 14 Further, by being located a predetermined distance above the horizontal plane of the upper extremities of the flyers, the receivers 21, 21 are not affected by light reflected from the fiyers such a to cause false stoppages of the roving frame. How ver. by locating the area being viewed by the receivers. cl sely adjacent, but forwardly of and above the upper extremities of the ilyers in the respective rows 1'7, 17', any interrupted rovings, which Whip about above the fiyers, pass through the respective detection area as represented by dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The scanning axes of receivers 21, 21 defining the respective detection areas 23, 23 are each preferably spaced from the corresponding barrels 19 at a distance of about /2 to inch measured along respective lines (FIGURE 3) extending at about 45 degrees to the horizontal, i.e., each detection area is located about to inch forwardly of and above the level of corresponding barrels 19.

In accordance with this invention, the first photoelectric means, including respective light sources 2%, 2i), receivers 1, 21' and response circuits 22, 22', is of the type known as impulse control. In such a control, a control signal is generated in response to a rapid change in the intensity of illumination applied to the receiver, rather than in response to gradual or relatively slow interruption of the illumination. With such photoelectric means, the illumination may be changed slowly without effecting the generation of a control signal, and such a photoelectric means may be designed to respond to either a rapid increase or a rapid decrease in the intensity of illumination applied to the receiver. In combination with the roving frame 1%, a photoelectric means responsive to a rapid decrease in the intensity of illumination applied to a receiver would respond, in effect, to the leading or forward edge of the free end of an interrupted roving passing into the area being viewed by the receiver 21 or 21'. Conversely, a photoelectric means responsive to' a rapid increase in the intensity of illumination applied to the receiver 21 or 21' would sense, in effect, the trailing or rearward edge of the free end of an interrupted sliver passing out of the area. In operative embodiments of the combination of this invention, it has been found preferable to use a photoelectric means responsive to a rapid decrease in the intensity of illumination. In any photoelectric rneans operating in response to a rapid change in the intensity of illumination, the speed, size and density of the interrupting article or object is critical in effecting generation of the control signal, and rovings have been found to be satisfactory in systems as described above.

Response circuit 22, for providing a control signal in response to a rapid change in the intensity of illumination applied to photoelectric receiver 21, may be constructed as shown in FEGURE 4. Response circuit 22 may be of like or similar construction to response circuit 22. As shown in FIGURE 4, the response circuit 22 includes a relay winding K1 op-erable to control the actuation of a set of contacts 24 in response to an output pulse from a transistorized trigger or monostable multivibrator circuit. The circuit 2 2' controls operation of a similar set of contacts 24- (FEGURE 5). As the design of circuits such as is shown in FIGURE 4 is within the skill of an electronic engineer familiar with transistorized circuitry, and such circuits are commercially available, a detailed explanation of the connection of the various elements of the circuit and the function thereof is deemed unnecessary.

in brief explanation, however, it may be noted that photoelectric receiver 2?. includes a light sensitive element or resistor PR (FIGURE 4) of the variable resistance type which is connected in series with resistors R8, R9 to form a voltage divider network. As shown (FIGURE 4), the voltage divider network is connected to provide a voltage impulse at the point of connection of light sensitive photoresistive element PR and resistor R8 upon a decrease in the intensity of illumination applied to element PR. In order to operate in the opposite mode; i.e., upon an increase in the intensity of illumination applied to element 1 R, it is only necessary to reverse the circuit positions of element PR and resistor R8 in the voltage divider network.

In order to apply a pulse of current through relay winding K1 and thus change the state of relay contacts 24, the point of connection of light sensitive element and resistor R8 is capacitance coupled through a D.C. (direct current) blocking capacitor C6 to the base circuit of a first transistor Q1. The first transistor Q1 serves as an amplifier to provide a current pulse causing transistors Q2 and Q3 to change conductive state, with the conduction of current between the collector and emitter of the output transistor Q3 resulting in a flow of current through relay winding K1 and thus a change of state of the relay. A timing network including a capacitor C8 returns the cir- 7 cuit to stable condition, in which the output transistor Q3 is not conducting after a predetermined suitable time period.

In an operating embodiment of the circuit of FIGURE 5, the following component values were used:

R1 (resistor) kilohnss 12 R2 (resistor) do 12 R3 (resistor) do 2.7 R4 (resistor) do 2.7 R5 (resistor) do 1.0 R6 (resistor) do 15 R7 (resistor) do 22 R8 (resistor) do 22 R9 (resistor) do 6.8 R10 (resistor) do 4.7 Rll-(resistor) ohms 180 R12 (resistor) l\'ilohms 47 R13 (resistor) do 82 R14 (resistor) ohms 390 R15 (resistor) ki1ohms 1.8 R16 (potentiometer) do R17 (resistor) ohms 470 RV1( varistor), l megohm at 10 volts.

' Microfarads C1 (capacitor) 0.01 C2 (capacitor) 0.01 C3 (capacitor) C4 (capacitor) 50 C5 (capacitor) 250 C6 (capacitor) 0.25 C7 (capacitor) 0.25 C8 (capacitor) 25 C9 (capacitor) 0.1

CR1, CR2 (diodes) 4IA6FX93 CR3, CR4, CR5 (diodes) 4IA6FX93 CR6 (silicon diode) E4 Q1 (transistor) 4D26 Q2 (transistor) TRS-97 Q3 (transistor) 2Nl4l5 K1 (relay winding or coil) ohms 400 In the operating embodiment of the circuit of FIG- URE 5, with the component values listed as above, the circuit triggers on light-change impulse of 0.001 second to 0.003 second, with the relay pull-in time being approximately 0.015 second after the impulse. The relay dwell time, or the time during which the contacts maintain the change of state, is approximately 0.750 second. Although various modifications may be made in the response circuit of FIGURE 4 by those familiar with electronic circuit design, it is to be noted that the essen tial function of the circuit is effected primarily by blocking capacitor C6, which blocks or prevents response of relay winding K1 to relatively slow changes in light intensity impinging upon light sensitive element PR, but permits momentary activation of relay winding K1 upon a rapid change in light intensity impinging upon light sensitive element PR.

In order to stop the frame 10 upon the interruption of any one or more of the slivers S in their course from the creel to the respective drafting units 11, a second photoelectric means for generating a control signal is provided, which includes a light source 30 mounted at one end of the frame, directing light toward a photoelectric receiver 31 mounted at the other end of the frame, and a response or amplifier circuit 32 which gencrates the control signal by changing the state of relay contacts in response to variation of illumination applied to receiver 31. Due to the operating characteristics of a roving frame 10 as now used, the location of the detection area viewed by receiver 30 is critical in order to obtain efiicient response of the second photoelectric means in causing the roving frame 10 to stop operating upon interruption of one or more slivers S.

Since the slivers S are not supported for the major part of their lengths passing between the front sliver guide rod 15 and the receiving side of drafting units 11, upon any sliver S being interrupted, or only upon the supply from the corresponding cans C becoming exhausted or run out, the free end of the interrupted or exhausted sliver S will fall in the unsupported area between the front sliver guide rod 15 and the receiving side of drafting units 11. Due to the high speed of movement of each sliver S in a roving frame 10, as operated at modern speeds, the free end of an interrupted sliver S does not fall directly downwardly from the front sliver guide rod 15, but is projected forwardly from rod 15 to follow a looped, whip-like path as represented by the arrow and dotted lines in FIGURE 1. In accordance with this invention, the receiver 30 of the second photoelectric means views a detection area adjacent the receiving side of the drafting units and extending longitudinally of the frame 10 beneath the predetermined normal paths of travel of the slivers, so that the location of the area is such that interrupted slivers pass through the area. More particularly, the area viewed by receiver 30 is closer to the receiving side of drafting units 11 than it is to the front sliver guide rod 15. Preferably, the distance from the center or axis of the detection area to the drafting units 11 should be from /3 to /2 the distance between front guide rod 15 and the drafting units 11. \Vhile an impulse type photoelectric means is suitable for use as the second photoelectric means, satisfactory operation has been obtained with a photoelectric means which generates a control signal in response to any interruption of the illumination applied to receiver 31, and such a means is preferred as being less expensive than an impulse type photoelectric means. Since such circuits are well known, a detailed description and illustration of response circuit or amplifier 32 is deemed unnecessary, it being apparent that coil 32a (FIGURE 5) of amplifier 32 is activated to change the state of corresponding relay contact sets 32 upon any interruption of the illumination applied to receiver 31.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided which are operable in response to a control signal generated by either the first or second photoelectric means for stopping the frame 10. Such a means, and the operation of the photoelectric control system of this invention, may best be described subsequent to a brief description of a schematic wiring diagram of the combination of this invention (FIGURE 5). In the schematic wiring diagram, a suitable line voltage, such as 550 volts, may be applied to line conductors 34, 35 to energize the driving means for the frame 10 and the control system of this invention.

The line voltage present on line conductors 34, 35 may be applied to the coil 36 of a starter relay which, when activated, completes the flow of current to a drive motor 37, which drives the frame 10 during operation, subject to the control system as described in greater detail hereinafter. The primary winding of a suitable transformer 33 is connected in parallel with starter relay coil 36 to line conductors 34, 35 to provide a secondary circuit voltage of volts, for example, across secondary conductors 39, 40 for the operation of the control system of this invention. The light sources 20, 20', 30 are connected in parallel with each other between secondary conductors 39, 40, resulting in illumination of the corresponding photoelectric receivers 21, 21, 31.

The response circuits 22, 22, 32 of the photoelectric means are also connected in parallel between secondary conductors 39, 40 in order to apply to those circuits the secondary circuit voltage which is required to energize respective relay windings (such as winding K1 of FIG- URE 4) forming a portion of these circuits so as to generate control signals by changing the state of the respective relay contact sets 24, 24', 32 in response to variation in the illumination of the respective photoelec- 9 tric receivers 21, 21', 31 connected to response circuits 22, 22', 32.

In order to control the application of line voltage from line conductors 34, 35 to motor starter relay coil 36, a main relay winding 41 is provided which controls the operation of two sets of normally open relay contacts 42, 43. Relay contact set 42 is connected in series with coil 36 to control the application of line voltage thereto, and the other contact set 43 is connected in series with relay winding 41. For reasons to be later described, a builder motion switch or limit switch 45 and a set of normally open relay contacts 47 controlled by a secondary relay winding 46 may be connected together in series and in parallel to main relay cont-act set 42. One normally open set of auxiliary contacts 48, which may be controlled by the coil 36 of the conventional motor starter control, is shown connected in series with secondary relay winding 46. Overload protection for motor 36 may be provided by a pair of normally closed overload responsive disconnectors or circuit breakers 49, 59, connected in series with starter relay coil 36.

As stated above, the control signals generated by the response circuits 22, 22', 32 of the photoelectric means are presented as a change of condition of contact sets 24, 24', 32. In order to energize and deenergize main relay winding 41 in response to a control signal from any one or more of the photoelectric means, the main relay winding 41 and the contact sets 24, 24', 32, controlled by variation in intensity of the illumination applied to the respective photoelectric receivers 21, 21', 31, are included in a control system sub-circuit. Accordingly, the secondary circuit voltage of 110 volts is applied to a sub-circuit conductor 51 through a normally closed push-button stop switch 52. Also, the normally closed contacts of the control signal relay contact sets 24, 24, 32, are connected in series with switch 52, main relay winding 41 and the second contact set 43 operated thereby. A normally open, manually operable push-button start switch 58 is arranged in series with switch 52 and relay winding 41, and is in parallel with the normally closed contacts of relay contact sets 24, 24, 32' and the second relay contact set 43 controlled by main relay winding 41.

The control signal relay contact sets 24, 24', 32' have only a momentary change of condition upon a rapid change in the intensity of illumination applied to the photoelectric receivers 21, 21', and upon any change in the intensity of illumination applied to receiver 31, respectively. However, in order to provide an indication that a strand interruption has occurred and caused the stopping of frame 19, a fault-indication sub-system may be provided which includes a plurality of fault-indication relay windings 6t), 64, 68 controlled by the respective control signal relay contact sets 24, 24, 32' to operate respective pairs of normally open contact sets 61, 62; 65, 66; 69, 70. The fault-indication relay windings 60, 64, 63 are shown connected in series with the normally open contacts of control signal relay contact sets 24, 24', 32' so that secondary circuit voltage is applied thereto upon occurrence of a corresponding control signal. The normally open contact sets 62, 66, 70, operated by the respective indication relay windings 69, 64, 68, are in parallel with the normally open contacts of contact sets 24, 24', 32 and in series with the respective windings 60, 64, 63 to hold the windings in energized condition subsequent to the occurrence of a control signal by -a momentary change in the condition of the respective control signal relay contact sets 24, 24', 32. The remaining sets of normally open contacts 61, 65, 69, operated by the fault-indication relay windings 60, 64, 68, are connected in parallel relation to each other and in series with a pilot lamp or visual or audible signal device 71 across conductors 40, 51. Additionally, the series circuit, including pilot lamp 71 and normally open contact set 69, may have a flasher or intermittent make-andbreak switch 72 connected in series therewith to cause pi'lot lamp 71 to flash intermittently upon the occurrence of an interrupted sliver S.

In initiating operation of roving frame 10, an operator will momentarily close normally open start switch 58 to energize main relay winding 41, thus closing the associated contact sets 42, 43 to apply line voltage to starter relay coil 36, and thus to motor 37 to drive the roving frame 10. Upon release of the start push-button switch 58, the energization of main relay winding 41 is continued because normally open relay contact set 43 is held closed as the circuit is completed through the normally closed contacts of control signal relay contact sets 24, 24, 32'. Upon starting motor 37, coil 36 also closes auxiliary contact set 48 to energizesecondary relay winding 46, thereby closing the associated contact set 47 to place the normally open builder motion switch 45 is parallel with main relay contact set 42 during normal operation of the roving frame 10. The function of builder motion switch 45 will be later described.

If an operator desires to stop operation of the roving frame 10, thenormally closed push-button stop switch 52 is manually opened momentarily to remove secondary circuit voltage from sub-circuit conductor 51 and thus deenergize main and secondary relay windings 41, 46. Thereupon, the associated relay contact sets 42, 47, controlling the application of line voltage to starter relay coil 36, will open and energization of motor 37 will be interrupted. As the secondary circuit voltage is simultaneously removed from the secondary relay winding 46, thereby opening the relay contacts 47 controlled by that wind ing, the frame 10 is stopped irrespective of the open or closed condition of builder motion limit switch 45.

If a strand, such as a roving R being received by a flyer 16 in the first row 17, is interrupted; i.e., parted, broken, etc., during operation of frame 10, the intensity of illumination applied to the corresponding photoelectric receiver 21 will be interrupted by the interrupted strand and the rapid change in illumination applied to that receiver will result in the associated response circuit 22 generating a control signal by changing the condition of relay contact set 24. Upon a change of condition of relay contact set 24, the circuit to main relay winding 41 is broken and secondary control voltage is thus removed from that winding, causing the associated relay contact sets 42, 43 to open. The opening of relay contact set 42 will interrupt the line voltage circuit to motor 37 (as effected by coil 36) to stop the frame, unless the builder -motion limit switch 45 is closed, which occurs only during a limitedperiod of time required to reverse the building of the package P, as is well known.

Simultaneously with the interruption of the circuit to main relay winding 41, a circuit is completed momentarily, by the armature of contact set 24, to energize the first fault-indication relay winding 60 and close the associated relay contact sets 61, 62. The second contact set 62 then completes a circuit to maintain or hold energization of relay winding 6G. The first associated relay contact set 61, being closed, completes a circuit which energizes pilot lamp 71 and causes the same to glow continuously and thus indicate to an operator the occurrence of a roving break. Upon repairing the break, the operator may momentarily open stop switch '52 to break the circuit to relay winding 60 to thereby deenergiz e lamp 71, and then the operator may close push-button start switch 58 to again initiate operation of roving frame 10.

Substantially the same method of operation will occur upon generation of a control signal by a change in the condition of either remaining control signal relay contact set 55, 56 associated with the other response circuits 22', 32 of the first and second photoelectric means, with the exception that flasher 72 is included in the pilot lamp circuit completed in response to the breakage of a sliver S. As a result, the breakage of a sliver S is indicated to the operator of the frame 10 by an intermittent flashing of 1 I! pilot lamp 71, as distinct from the continuous glow of lamp 71 when a roving R is interrupted.

Another conventional type of roving frame is indicated generally at 80 (FIGURES 6-8) and includes a row of drafting units 81, a girt or main horizontal frame member 82, a front sliver guide rod 85 and flyers 86. Slivers S pass from creel cans C over rod 85 and through drafting units 81. The emerging rovings R' pass through flyers 86 to packages P. The distinctions between roving frames 80 (FIGURES 6-8) and 10 (FIGURES 13) reside primarily in the particular construction of flyers 85 and the manner in which they are supported. More particularly, it has become possible to maintain higher bobbin and flyer speeds by utilizing a flyer 86 which is of closed leg construction. That is, the legs of each flyer 86, depending from adjacent the upper extremity of the flyer, are connected to a suitable bearing support adjacent the base of the flyer 86, to thereby limit dynamic unbalancing effect of centrifugal forces generated during rotation of the flyers. Further, the rotational stability of flyers 86 has been improved by providing bearings encircling the upper extremities of the fiyers and being supported from the main frame member or girt 82 of roving frame 80.

While the combination of this invention may be applied to roving frame 80 generally in the manner in which it is applied to roving frame 19 as heretofore described, since the wobbling of the upper extremities of the flyers 86 at high speeds is not as great as is the case with respect to flyers 16, the photoelectric receivers 21, 21 may be positioned slightly differently when used with roving frame 80 as compared to when they are used with roving frame 10. In other respects, the photoelectric means associated with roving frame 80 may be the same as that associated with roving frame 10 and will, therefore, bear the same reference characters, where applicable. More particularly, the photoelectric receivers 21, 21', as applied to the two rows of flyers 86 of roving frame 80 view respective detection areas extending longitudinally of the frame and closely adjacent the upper extremities of the flyers 86 in the respective rows, but spaced a predetermined distance from the upper extremities of the flyers. For example, the axes of the detection areas may be spaced about inch forwardly of the upper extremities of the corresponding flyers 86 and about /8 inch above the level of the upper extremities of the flyers.

The second photoelectric means, including light source 30, photoelectric receiver 31 and response circuit 32, may be mounted on roving frame 80 intermediate the horizontal planes of the front sliver guide rod 85 and the receiving side of drafting units 81 in a manner substantially identical to the manner in which the second photoelectric means is applied to roving frame 10 heretofore described. Accordingly, a further description of the photoelectric means as associated with roving frame 80 is deemed unnecessary.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a roving frame having a row of drafting units, a guide member spaced rearwardly of the units and over and from which all sliver strands being drafted normally pass forwardly in a parallel plane to the units, and a row of aligned rotatable flyers for receiving textile roving strands from corresponding units and forming wound packages therefrom, the combination therewith of a control system for stopping the frame upon occurrence of an interrupted strand comprising:

first photoelectric means including a light source adjacent one end of the row of flyers, a photoelectric receiver adjacent the other end of the row and in the path of li ht from said light source, a signal generating means operatively connected to said receiver for generating a control signal in response to a rapid change in the intensity of light being applied to said receiver, said receiver having a scanning axis defining a detection area extending closely adjacent and longitudinally of the row of flyers and spaced forwardly of, above, and outside the paths of rotation of the upper extremities of the flyers such that any light' reflected from the flyers is ineffective with respect to the receiver such as to cause said generating means to generate a control signal, but wherein the detection area is so located that any interrupted roving strands pass through said area and cause a rapid change in the intensity of the light being applied to said receiver by said light source to generate a control signal,

second photoelectric means comprising another light source adjacent one end of the frame, another photoelectric receiver adjacent the other end of the frame in the path of light from said other light source, said other receiver having a scanning axis defining a corresponding detection area extending longitudinally of the frame between the guide member and the drafting units and adjacent and beneath the normal parallel plane of the sliver strands so that interrupted sliver strands pass through the corresponding detection area, said second photoelectric means including means for generating a control signal in response to a reduction in intensity of the light being applied to said other receiver by said other light source as effected by an interrupted sliver strand passing through the corresponding detection area, and

means operatively connected to both of said photoelectric means and being responsive to a control signal being generated by interruption of a strand for stopping the roving frame.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flyers have legs depending from adjacent the upper extremities thereof which are free to expand under centrifugal forces such that they dynamically unbalance the flyers and wherein said first-named detection area is spaced from the upper extremities of the flyers along a line at about 45 degrees to the horizontal and at a distance of from about /2 to inch.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flyers have legs depending from adjacent the upper extremities thereof and joined together adjacent the lower extremities thereof to restrain them against expansion under centrifugal forces and wherein said detection area is spaced about 1% inch above the level of the upper extremities of the flyers and about A inch forwardly thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric receiver of said second photoelectric means is so located that its detection area is located a distance rearwardly of the drafting units which is no greater than about one-half the distance between the guide member and the drafting units.

5. In a roving frame having a row of drafting units, guide means spaced rearwardly of the units and over which all sliver strands being drafted normally pass forwardly in a parallel plane to the units, and a row of aligned rotatable flyers for receiving textile roving strands from corresponding units and forming wotmd packages therefrom; the combination therewith of a control system for stopping the frame upon occurrence of an interrupted strand comprising:

photoelectric means including a light source adjacent one end of the row of flyers, a photoelectric receiver adjacent the other end of the row and in the path of light from said light source, a signal generating means operatively connected to said receiver for generating a control signal in response to a rapid change in the intensity of light being applied to said receiver, said receiver having a scanning axis defining a detection area extending closely adjacent and longitudinally of 13 the row of flyers and spaced forwardly of, above, and outside the paths of rotation of the upper extremities of the flyers such that any light reflected from the flyers is ineffective with respect to the receiver such as to cause said generating means to generate a control signal, but wherein the detection area is so located that any interrupted roving strands pass through said area and cause a rapid change in the intensity of the light being applied to said receiver by said li ht source to generate a control signal, frame stopping means operatively connected to said signal generating means and responsive to a control signal being generated by said signal generating means for stopping the roving frame.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flyers have legs depending from adjacent the upper extremities thereof which are free to expand under centrifugal forces such that they dynamically unbalance the flyers during rotation thereof and wherein said detection area is spaced from the upper extremities of the flyers along a line at about 45 degrees to the horizontal and at a distance of about /2 to inch.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the flyers have legs depending from adjacent the upper extremities thereof and joined together adjacent the lower extremities thereof to restrain them against expansion under centrifugal forces and wherein said detection area is spaced about /8 inch above the level of the upper extremities of the flyers and about inch forwardly thereof.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control signal is generated in response to a rapid decrease in intensity of the light being applied to said receiver.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the roving frame includes an additional row of aligned flyers for receiving textile roving strands from corresponding units, and wherein said photoelectric means further comprises a second light source and a second photoelectric receiver located adjacent respective opposite ends of said additional row, said second receiver being in the path of light from said second light source and having a scanning axis defining a second detection area located with respect to the upper extremities of the flyers in said additional row in a manner corresponding to that in which said first-named detection area is located with respect to the upper extremities of the flyers in the first-named row, a second signal generating means for generating a control signal in response to a rapid change in the intensity of light being applied to said second photoelectric receiver by passage of an interrupted roving through said second detection area, and said frame stopping means also being operatively connected to said second signal generating means and also being responsive to a control signal being generated by said second signal generating means for stopping the roving frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,704,430 3/1955 Harris 57-345 X 2,989,796 6/1961 Ashe 5781 X 3,099,829 7/1963 Katz 5781 X 3,114,233 12/1963 Guri 57-81 3,158,852 11/1964 Sohacher 57-81 X FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Examiner. 

5. IN A ROVING FRAME HAVING A ROW OF DRAFTING UNITS, GUIDE MEANS SPACED REARWARDLY OF THE UNITS AND OVER WHICH ALL SLIVER STRANDS BEING DRAFTED NORMALLY PASS FORWARDLY IN A PARALLEL PLANE TO THE UNITS, AND A ROW OF ALIGNED ROTATABLE FLYERS FOR RECEIVING TEXTILE ROVING STRANDS FROM CORRESPONDING UNITS AND FORMING WOUND PACKAGES THEREFROM; THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STOPPING THE FRAME UPON OCCURRENCE OF AN INTERRUPTED STRAND COMPRISING: PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS INCLUDING A LIGHT SOURCE ADJACENT ONE END OF THE ROW OF FLYERS, A PHOTOELECTRIC RECEIVER ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF THE ROW AND IN THE PATH OF LIGHT FROM SAID LIGHT SOURCE, A SIGNAL GENERATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RECEIVER FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SIGNAL IN RESPONSE TO A RAPID CHANGE IN THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT BEING APPLIED TO SAID RECEIVER, SAID RECEIVER HAVING A SCANNING AXIS DEFINING A DETECTION AREA EXTENDING CLOSELY ADJACENT AND LONGITUDINALLY OF THE ROW OF FLYERS AND SPACED FORWARDLY OF, ABOVE, AND OUTSIDE THE PATHS OF ROTATION OF THE UPPER EXTREMITIES OF THE FLYERS SUCH THAT ANY LIGHT REFLECTED FROM THE FLYERS IS INEFFECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE RECEIVER SUCH AS TO CAUSE SAID GENERATING MEANS TO GENERATE A CONTROL SIGNAL, BUT WHEREIN THE DETECTION AREA IS SO LOCATED THAT ANY INTERRUPTED ROVING STRANDS PASS THROUGH SAID AREA AND CAUSE A RAPID CHANGE IN THE INTENSITY OF THE LIGHT BEING APPLIED TO SAID RECEIVER BY SAID LIGHT SOURCE TO GENERATE A CONTROL SIGNAL, FRAME STOPPING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SIGNAL GENERATING MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO A CONTROL SIGNAL BEING GENERATED BY SAID SIGNAL GENERATING MEANS FOR STOPPING THE ROVING FRAME. 